Species of Alestidae are known to be parasitised by dactylogyrid monogeneans representing three genera, Afrocleidodiscus Paperna, 1969, Annulotrema Paperna & Thurston, 1969, and Characidotrema Paperna & Thurston, 1968. The objective of the present study was to investigate the species diversity of Monopisthocotylea of African tetras from the Lower Phongolo River and floodplain in South Africa. Four new and two previously described species of Annulotrema were identified from the gills of three species of African tetras, Brycinus imberi, Hydrocynus vittatus, and Micralestes acutidens. The collected parasites were studied using two complementary approaches: morphology of hard sclerotised structures, and molecular markers using rDNA sequence data (28S rDNA, 18S rDNA, and ITS1). Three new species, Annulotrema arcum n. sp., Annulotrema caputfemoris n. sp., and Annulotrema strepsiceros n. sp., were described from B. imberi and one species, Annulotrema retortum n. sp., from M. acuditens. Two previously described species, Annulotrema pikoides Guégan, Lambert and Birgi, 1988 and A. pseudonili Kičinjaová and Řehulková, 2017, were newly recorded from H. vittatus in South Africa. Annulotrema arcum n. sp. and A. caputfemoris n. sp. share similar male copulatory organ morphologies, suggesting a close phylogenetic relationship as sister taxa. Despite weak nodal support, A. strepsiceros n. sp. shows morphological congruence with the former two species, reinforcing their molecular linkage. The present study shows a critical need for the exploration of monopisthocotylean diversity and the paucity of available molecular data of representatives from this group.

TITLE: Espèces d'Annulotrema (Monopisthocotylea, Dactylogyridae) parasitant des tétras africains (Characiformes, Alestidae) dans la rivière Phongolo, en Afrique du Sud, avec description de quatre nouvelles espèces. ABSTRACT: Les espèces d'Alestidae sont connues pour être parasitées par des monogènes Dactylogyridae représentant trois genres, Afrocleidodiscus Paperna, 1969, Annulotrema Paperna & Thurston, 1969 et Characidotrema Paperna & Thurston, 1968. L'objectif de la présente étude était d'examiner la diversité des espèces de Monopisthocotylea des tétras africains du cours inférieur de la rivière Phongolo et de sa plaine inondable en Afrique du Sud. Quatre nouvelles espèces d'Annulotrema et deux espèces déjà décrites ont été identifiées à partir des branchies de trois espèces de tétras africains, Brycinus imberi, Hydrocynus vittatus et Micralestes acutidens. Les parasites collectés ont été étudiés en utilisant deux approches complémentaires, la morphologie des structures sclérifiées et les marqueurs moléculaires utilisant des données de séquence d'ADNr (ADNr 28S, ADNr 18S et ITS1). Trois nouvelles espèces, Annulotrema arcum n. sp., Annulotrema caputfemoris n. sp. et Annulotrema strepsiceros n. sp., ont été décrites chez B. imberi et une espèce, Annulotrema retortum n. sp., chez M. acuditens. Deux espèces précédemment décrites, Annulotrema pikoides Guégan, Lambert et Birgi, 1988 et A. pseudonili Kičinjaová et Řehulková, 2017, ont été nouvellement répertoriées chez H. vittatus en Afrique du Sud. Annulotrema arcum n. sp. et A. caputfemoris n. sp. partagent des morphologies similaires de l’organe copulateur mâle, suggérant une relation phylogénétique étroite de taxons frères. Malgré un faible support nodal, A. strepsiceros n. sp. présente une congruence morphologique avec les deux premières espèces, renforçant leur lien moléculaire. La présente étude montre qu'il est essentiel d'explorer la diversité des Monopisthocotylea et que les données moléculaires disponibles sur les représentants de ce groupe sont rares.

Department of Botany and Zoology Faculty of Science Masaryk University Kotlářská 2 61137 Brno Czech Republic

Water Research Group Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management North West University Private Bag X6001 Potchefstroom 2520 South Africa

Water Research Group Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management North West University Private Bag X6001 Potchefstroom 2520 South Africa DSI NRF SARChI Chair Department of Biodiversity School of Molecular and Life Sciences University of Limpopo Private Bag X1106 Sovenga 0727 South Africa

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